Speaker: Dr. Josie Badger

Individuals with disabilities are more directly affected by policies and legislation than the general population. Unfortunately, few individuals with disabilities or their families have the opportunity to work with leaders and policy makers. This session will explore ways to work with changemakers, discuss opportunities, and learn about an advocacy training program that has supported over 100 individuals with disabilities in becoming state level advocates.

Join us for our inaugural Community Lecture Night! This will be a hybrid event, so people may attend either in person or online. Please register for the event whether you plan on attending in person or online so we can notify you of any change. All registered attendees will receive the zoom link regardless. Walk-ins are still welcome. Registration link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIkcuusqT0vGdSgJoDHBfqzM8IUIhXm-BJI

• When: July 29th from 6:00-7:30 PM
• Where: East Liberty Carnegie Library located at 130 S. Whitfield St., 15206 AND online via Zoom
• Parking: on-street (pay until 6pm) or in the lot behind the building (pay until 10pm)
• Public Transit: Nearby buses include the 71B, 71C, 74, 77, 82, 86, 88, and 89
• Building Accessibility:
  • Meeting is on the 2nd floor; there is an elevator inside the building, accessible from either the front or back entrance, and the meeting room is immediately across from the elevator.
  • Restrooms on the 2nd floor are accessible.
• Meeting Accessibility:
  • There will be sign language interpreters at all lectures available in-person and on zoom, and closed captioning available at least on Zoom. 
  • A limited number of wired headphone connections to the sound system will be available for personal sound amplification. You may use our headphones or bring your own. First come first served.
  • Chat will be disabled on Zoom during the lecture to better serve people using screen readers. Participants will still be able to message the hosts.
  • When it comes time for the Q&A, people may ask in person, by asking in the chat so the host can read it out loud, or by raising their hand on Zoom so the host can call on them to ask by voice or by ASL.
  • For more information, check out our Technical Info page.
• Masking / Air Quality:
  • For the safety of immunocompromised and vulnerable community members masks with a minimum rating of KF94 or KN95 will be required for all in-person attendees. (Speakers and interpreters may be unmasked, but will be required to take a COVID test on the morning of the event.) If you are unable or do not wish to wear a mask you should attend via Zoom. 
  • Air filtration will be provided by Clean Air Tools Pittsburgh.

If anyone has any other access needs please contact accessmobpittsburgh@gmail.com as soon as possible, but no later than Wednesday, July 24th.

Speaker Biography:

Our speaker is Dr. Josie Badger, who received her Bachelor’s degree from Geneva College in Disability Law and Advocacy, a Master’s from the University of Pittsburgh in Rehabilitation Counseling, and a Doctorate from Duquesne University in Healthcare Ethics.  In 2012, Dr. Badger was crowned Ms. Wheelchair America. In 2014 Josie founded J Badger Consulting Inc. where she provides youth development and disability consulting services.  She is the National Transition Director for SPAN Parent Advocacy Network, working with RAISE and the National Healthcare Transition Center for Youth with ID/DD. She is the Campaign Manager of the United Way of Southwestern PA’s #IWantToWork Campaign, to improve the employment of people with disabilities, is the lead Field Organizer for the Family Care Act that supports paid family leave, and is the developer of TRAIL, a statewide advocacy and lobbying training program.  She serves as the Secretary of FISA and co-chair of the Grants Committee.  Josie recently founded PEACOCK, a nonprofit that will further support the needs of the disability community and diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. With this new initiative, she hopes to be able to support the work of a new commission on men’s mental health.

Funding for this lecture comes from a grant from the Three Rivers Community Foundation.